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Our 5 Secrets to Staying Young

At the end of last year, Sonia Lloyd from
Rasasara showed us some
special ways to stay
young
. We were so inspired by her ideas that we researched even more ways
to feel youthful today.

So here’s our Take 2: our own brainstorm for
ways to stay fit, healthy and happy. It isn’t all about the food and the
exercise. Turns out embracing your wild side and letting go to have a bit of
fun can be just as beneficial!

1. Treat Yourself

The main take away from any conversation
with a nutritionist, is that cheeseburgers and cheesecakes are okay
in moderation. So, stop kicking yourself
for scoffing down that cheeseburger yesterday.

Mums are always taking care of everyone
else, and they often forget to look after themselves. When mums do treat
themselves they are overwhelmed with guilt. STOP THAT!

Be nice to yourself; remember to treat
yourself like you would a close friend. You wouldn’t slap a cupcake out of your
friend’s hand and call her a
fatty,
so don’t do it to yourself!

You might not have the same metabolism as
you did as a teenager, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the things you
used to. By treating yourself occasionally, you are soothing your soul.

If you really want to treat yourself
without feeling a pang of guilt, pick up that bottle of Merlot and a block of
dark chocolate.

Red
wine
and dark
chocolate
have been found to have a positive effect on blood pressure –
plus they’re high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. So why not indulge a
little … in moderation,
of course!

2. Sleep, Nap, Doze

Sleep is important. You know that, we all
know that, and yet parents still aren’t getting enough sleep. We just don’t
value sleep as highly as we should.

Your body needs eight hours of sleep every
night. I’ll say that again, because the new mums dozed off for a second there
and missed it: EIGHT HOURS!

New mothers are likely only to getting four
hours
or less. Trying to fit in a full night’s sleep when you’re caring for
a newborn is next to impossible.

But all mums need to start paying attention
to their sleep health. Researchers have found that while you sleep, your body
is
repairing
itself
. When you don’t get enough sleep, it can lead to chronic illnesses
and weight gain. Ouch!

So, start prioritising sleep: nap while the
kids are napping. Get your rest – all other work be damned!

3. Eat the Rainbow

Eating a colourful diet is recommended so
highly because it guarantees variety. It’s hard to find the time to measure
everything out and calculate calories.

Calorie counting might work for some, but
for many people it’s just stressful! Eating healthy is imperative to feeling
young and vibrant. But if it adds more pressure to the cooking process, what’s
the point?

A variety of fruits and vegetables contains
a range of vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants that will not only make
you healthier … The rainbow also tastes good too.

Health is important to feeling young, but
restrictive diets don’t make you feel young, that’s for sure. From red tomatoes
to green capsicums, eating a colourful array of vegetables and fruits is easier
and much more enjoyable.

4. Be
Mindful,
Act Young

Mindfulness is all the rage right now, but this is more than just a passing fad. Mindfulness is a pretty simple concept to grasp; it’s basically the practice of being mindful, conscious and aware of your actions and surroundings.

Harvard Psychologist Ellen Langer has
performed some
interesting
experiments
using the principles of mindfulness. To say her findings were
interesting is an understatement.

In the 1980s, Langer took eight men in
their seventies to a retreat in New Hampshire. They walked in with arthritic
limps and canes, showing all the ravages of ageing. But this retreat was
special; it took these eight men back in time.

The research team recreated the world of
1959 – that’s fifties clothes and furniture, black and white TVs, and Perry
Como on the radio. Then they asked the men not just to reminisce, but to
pretend like it was in fact 1959.

Within a few weeks, the group showed
amazing improvements both physically and mentally.

Another study convinced housemaids to start
looking at their physical labour as exercise and – you guessed it – they began
to lose weight!

So, what does this mean for busy parents?
Start thinking positively, start thinking youthfully, and start being mindful.

Everything you do in a day can add up to a
great work out, so if you’re not seeing the results, start thinking about it
differently.

By changing your mind set and living in the
moment, you can in fact change how you feel, physically and mentally.

5. Be a
Social Butterfly

As we get older, we begin to lose touch
with old friends. Sometimes we just don’t make enough time for them, or they
don’t make enough time for us. Either way, it can be difficult to deal with.

When you’re a kid, you have all the time in
the world to spend with friends. But between work and taking care of the kids,
it’s hard to find time to be sociable as you enter your mid-life … situation!

To stay young, we need to take time out
from looking after the kids to spend time with adults. Spending all your time
with little ones can start to drive you batty, so start building your own
social network.

Socialising
is important
for your mental and even for your physical health. Join parent
groups, catch up with friends for brunch, throw movie nights … Whatever makes
you most relaxed and happy.

This goes for relationships as well. Go on
date nights and spend quality time with your partner. Even if you have to
schedule it, it’s better than nothing!

Do you have any ideas of your own to wash
away your age for the day and feel energised again? We’d love to hear your own
techniques in the Comments section below. Meanwhile, be sure to read plenty
more advice – and a good dose of fun stories! – on
the Bobux blog today.